Holder for socket-wrench sets



H. G. RICE HOLDER FOR SOCKET WRENCE SETS Filed Feb. 18, 1926 Nov. 15,1927. 1,649,615

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Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES HAROLD Cr. RICE, 0F CHICAGO, ILINOIS.

HOLDER FOR SOCKET-XVRENGH SETS.

Application filed February VThis invention relates to holders for socketwrench sets which consists of, for ex* ample, a plurality lof graduatedsizes of sockets, a screw driver socket member and a bent-end handlemember. One object of the invention is to provide such a holderl inwhich the sockets are coinpactly arranged and in which the handle memberis firmly held in position and utilized to hold the socket members inplace in the holder.

Another object is to provide such a holder which will be light in weightand strong and rigid, and which will be convenient in use and easy tomanufacture.

@ther kobjects and advantages of the in- `vention will become apparentwhen reference yis had to the following specification, when consideredin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a planview of the holder.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Figp is a longitudinal section, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4% and 5 5 respectively of Fig.2.

Referring now to the drawings whereinl have illustrated a selectedembodiment of my invention, 6 represents the sockets, 7 a handle memberhaving a bent end 8 and straight end 9, and 10 a screw driver member.`The handle member is preferably of hexagonal cross section such as iscommonly used in devices of this kind and the straight `end `9of thehandle is adapted to be used in turning the sockets when the bent end 8is inserted into the proper end of one of the sockets in a well knownmanner.

The holder comprises a housing 1l having a bottom wall 12 which is wideenough at one end to receive the largest socket of the set and taperstowards the other end to receive the smallest socket of the set. Sideflanges 18 and 14 extend upwardly from the bottom 12 to prevent lateraldisplacement of the socket members and are preferably integral with thebottom. At the narrow end of the housing 11, l provide a stop or closuremember to prevent endwise displacement of the small sockets, preferablyby bending upwardly an arm or extension 12 of the bottom 12. A cup orreceptacle 15 may conveniently be secured to the closure is, 192e. seniNo. 89,065.

member 12 for the purpose of providing means for receiving and holdingthe straight end of the handle member.

While I prefer Vto provide a separate cup i menibei'i, I may in lieuthereof, strike out a plurality of lugs from the closure member 12 insuch positions that the straight end i of the handle member would bereceived and heldunposition thereby, or I may merely provide an aperturein the closure member through which the said end of the handle l maypass. ln the present embodiment of the invention I nd it convenient toplace the screw-driver socket member 10 atmthe narrow end of thehousing, and in order to enable this member being placed at the eX-treme end against the closure member, I provide a slot 16 in the lowerside of the cup member 15 into which the screw driver edge may be slid.

The handle member 7 is of such length that when the straight end 9thereof is inserted into the receptacle 15 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,and positioned over the sockets in the holder', the bent end 8 will eXtend downwardly adjacent the large socket. Inorder `to maint-ain thehandle in this position, and thereby to hold the sockets Vin the housing11, provide a 4cap member 17 a which is shaped to substantially conformto the shape of the bent end of the handle, and which is provided withattaching ears 18 and 19 whereby it is pivotally secured to the ends ofthe side flanges 13 and 14 respectively, by any suitable means, forexample, rivets 2O and 21.

To prevent lateral displacement of the bent end of the handle member, Iprovide lugs or lips 22 and 23 extending down- Wardly from the capmember 17 s o as to embrace the handle as best shown in Figs. 2

and t. rllhe cap member 17 is normally held til) thereby more firmlylock the cap in its closed position. However, if desired, the lipmembers 22 and 23 may be bent towards the handle sligm ly, so as to forma clip over the handle prevent accidental opening of the cap, Additionallugs or lips 24 and 25 may be provided to engage the bent end 8 of thehandle in the saine manner as above described in regard to lips 22 and23.

When the holder is to be opened so that the handle and one of thesockets may be withdrawn, the cap 17 is merely turned on its pivotstothe position shown in Fig. 3 wherein it serves as a leg for supportingthat end of the holder while the other or narrow end of the holder mayrest directif,T on the bench or other support on which it is laid. i

I am aware that changes may be made in the form and construction of myimproved connector without departing from the essence of the inventionand I therefore'reserve the right tomake `all such changes which fallwithin the scope of the following claims. "j "j I claim` as myinvention: j

l. In a holler `for holding a set of sockets in a rowand a 'socketwrench handle member in packed position adjacent the row ot sockets, thecombination oi a tray l'or receiving a set of sockets, a part at one endo t' j aid tray having a recess i'or receiving one end of asocket wrenchhandle member for holding said end in packed position, and anindependent cap member connected `to said tray adjacent the opposite endthereof so as to be movable relatively thereto and adapted to embraceonly a comparatively small portion of said handle member so as to holdthe latter end in packed position.

2. A holder for holding a set of sockets in a row and a handle memberdisposed lengthwise of the row and comprising a tray for receiving theset ot sockets in a row with the handle member extending over the topsof the row of sockets, and a biturcated part having its bifurcationstraddling the tray and pivotally connected thereto, said part beingcapable of being swung on its pivotal connection and operative in oneposition of adjustment to lock said handle member in effective position.1

3. In a holder for holding a socket wrench set comprising a pluralityoi' sockets and a bent end handle member, a tapered channel housing `forholding the sockets in a row, aI stop for said sockets at one end ofsaidhousing comprising an upwardly extending arm, means tor holding thehandle member over the row ot .sockets comprising means on said arm forreceiving and interlocking with the straight end oi the handle, and anindependent member at the other end oli' the housing, pivotally mountedon an axis transverse of the length ot' the `housing and adapted toembrace a portion ot the adjacent end ot' the bent end handle memberi'or holding said adjacent end in position.

4. In a holder ior holding a socket wrench set comprising a plurality ofsockets and a bent-end handle member in an arrangement wherein thesockets are in a row and the handle is disposed over the sockets withthe bent end thereotyprojecting downwardly ad jacent the socket at oneend of the row, a housing comprising a tapering bottom having upwardlyextending side iianges between which the sockets are retained, an endstop at onerend ot' the housing comprising an arin extending upwardlyfrom said bottom, an axially horizontal cup Secured to said arm at anelevation from said bottom and adapted to receive the straight end ofsaid yhandle member, a cap member pivotally connected to said sideflanges and adapted to embrace the bent end of said handle to hold thehandle in the desired position.

5. In a holder for holding a socketwrench set comprising a plurality ofsockets and a bent-end handle member, a housing compris ing a taperingbottom having upwardly ex tending side flanges between which the socketsare retained, `a closure for` one end of said housing comprising anupwardly extending lip integral with the bottom and having a recess atits upper end adapted to slidably receive and interlock with thestraight end of the handle member and an independent locking member atthe other end ot the housing for positioning the bent end oi the handlemeniber,`comprising a member shaped to enclose said bent end, andhavinga pair ot attaching ears extending theretromand pivotallyconnected to said Aside flanges. y

`6. In a holder of the class described, a housing for receiving a set etsockets in a row and a handle disposed thereover, means at one end oithe housing for holdingthe straight end ot' the handle and a cap atthe`other end oi the housing pivotally secured thereto for holding the otherend of the handle, said pivotal connection being spaced inwardly fromthe corresponding end of the handle, whereby upward movement of that endot the handle member forces said cap into tighter engagement with thehandle member.

7. In a holder for holding a plurality of sockets in a row with thehandle disposed over the sockets to retain them in the holder, a housingfor receiving the sockets `having a bottom provided with side wallmembers for holding the sockets against lateral displacement on thebottom, means on one end oi the housing :tor holding the straight end otthe handle in position adjacent the sockets and means independent of thefirst mentioned means andpivotally connected to the other end ofthehousing at a point spaced S Il illu

a row and a handle member disposed length- Wise of the row andcomprising a tray for receiving the sockets in a row, and means forretaining the sockets in said tray and including a member having abifurcated part straddling the tray and pivotally connected thereto onan axis extending transverse of the length of 'the tray.

VHAROLD G. RICE.

